Cambodia Raids 85 Online Scam Hubs in August, Arrests Over 1,200 Suspects

AKP Phnom Penh, September 15, 2026 -- Cambodian authorities raided 85 remaining small-scale online scam operations across the country in August, arresting more than 1,200 suspects, the Ministry of Interior announced Tuesday. According to a report from the General Commissariat of National Police, law enforcement officers detained 1,255 suspects of 13 different nationalities during the month-long nationwide crackdown. Chinese nationals accounted for the largest group at 732, followed by 323 Vietnamese, 94 Cambodians, 53 Thais, 24 Indonesians, nine from Myanmar, four Nepalese, four Malaysians, three Indians, three Pakistanis, three Bangladeshis, two South Koreans, and one Lao national. During the same period, the General Department of Immigration deported 2,005 foreign nationals – including 320 women – representing 32 nationalities for statutory violations. Among those expelled, 574 individuals from 11 nationalities were directly linked to cyber-scam syndicates. In close coordination with the Chinese Embassy, Cambodian authorities arranged three chartered flights to deport 473 Chinese nationals, 228 of whom were involved in scam operations. To prevent criminal networks from relocating, interior ministry officials conducted administrative inspections across 3,657 target locations covering 17,834 individuals, while executing 269 roadside checkpoints to screen 2,763 people in suspicious vehicles. Additionally, authorities levied total fines of 822.24 million Riel (Approximately US$205,560) on property owners and managers violating Sub-Decree No. 3, including 1.2 million Riel (US$400) under Article 19 and 821.04 million Riel (US$ 205,260) under Article 20. By K. Rithy Reak